What permits do you need to open a salon or barber in Mahoning County?

Tattoo & Body Piercing Establishment Permit

A studio or salon in Mahoning County outside the City of Youngstown that offers tattooing or body piercing needs an establishment permit from Mahoning County Public Health. MCPH's tattoo page states that permanent cosmetics, including 'permanent makeup' and 'microblading', have 'the same meaning as tattoo' and 'must therefore be conducted in a body art establishment permitted by the Mahoning County Board of Health', so a beauty salon offering microblading falls under this permit. The figure is as published in the 'MAHONING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FEE SCHEDULE 2026', MCPH's county fee schedule linked from its Current Fees page as 'Tattoo Establishment Permit Fee 596.00' and 'Tattoo Establishment Late Fee 149.00'. MCPH's establishment application asks for 'a check or money order of $596 payable to: Mahoning County Public Health', states 'Late Fee applicable after December 31st, 25% penalty fee ($149)', requires written approval from the zoning and building departments having jurisdiction on an initial application, and cites 'Sections 3730.01 to 3730.11 of the Ohio Revised Code'. A hair or nail salon that offers no tattooing, piercing or permanent makeup is outside this record. Scope: Youngstown has its own health district. MCPH's food page states that 'Mahoning County businesses (except in the city of Youngstown) selling, preparing and/or serving food must meet the requirements of the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code and be licensed by Mahoning County Public Health', and its tattoo page states that 'all facilities and artists located within Youngstown city limits fall under the authority of the Youngstown City Health District and are not subject to Mahoning County's regulations.' A business inside Youngstown city limits deals with the Youngstown City Health District, and the MCPH figures here do not apply there.

Tattoo / Body Piercing Artist and Apprentice Registration

Each tattoo artist, body piercer or apprentice working in Mahoning County outside the City of Youngstown registers individually with Mahoning County Public Health, on top of the establishment permit. The Board of Health regulation 'Sanitary Requirements for Tattoo & Body Piercing Establishments', adopted under ORC 3707.01 and 3709.21 and carrying a revision effective 'on and after the 1st day of July, 2018', makes it 'unlawful for any individual to engage in the practice of tattooing or body piercing without first obtaining a registration', and Section 2(B) states that 'Each registration issued hereunder shall expire annually on December thirty-first of each year.' The figures are as published in the 'MAHONING COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH FEE SCHEDULE 2026', MCPH's county fee schedule linked from its Current Fees page as 'New Artist/Apprentice Registration 125.00' and 'Artist/Apprentice Renewal 50.00'. MCPH's tattoo page applies the same registration requirement to practitioners of permanent makeup and microblading. Scope: Youngstown has its own health district. MCPH's food page states that 'Mahoning County businesses (except in the city of Youngstown) selling, preparing and/or serving food must meet the requirements of the Ohio Uniform Food Safety Code and be licensed by Mahoning County Public Health', and its tattoo page states that 'all facilities and artists located within Youngstown city limits fall under the authority of the Youngstown City Health District and are not subject to Mahoning County's regulations.' A business inside Youngstown city limits deals with the Youngstown City Health District, and the MCPH figures here do not apply there.

Salon or Barbershop License

One board licenses both sides of the trade at the same price — $85 to open, $75 every two years after — but the renewal deadlines differ and are easy to miss. A cosmetology or tanning business renews by 31 January of each odd-numbered year; a barbershop renews by 31 August of each even-numbered year. Every business is inspected at least once in the two-year cycle. Moving premises or changing owner needs a fresh application, not a transfer, and a change of ownership must be applied for within thirty days. A late renewal adds $45.

Shared with other businesses in Mahoning County

• Vendor's License — Ohio Department of Taxation, $50 one-time, per fixed location, no renewal — stays in effect until cancelled. Also required for restaurants, coffee shops, retail stores, fitness studios, auto repair shops and veterinary clinics; what it involves is set out on the retail stores page.